Getting Here

By Air

It's easy to reach the Northwest Territories from major airports in southern and western Canada. There's daily jet service to Yellowknife from Calgary, Edmonton and seasonally, Vancouver. Jet service is also available from Ottawa via Iqaluit, Nunavut. Our busiest airport is Yellowknife, which serves as a connection point for flights within the Northwest Territories, and the hub for jet flights from the south. Most larger NWT communities are only a short flight away. See our website for details about major airline service and local connections: www.spectacularnwt.com/howtogethere/byair.

By Road

Uncrowded highways take drivers through scenic wilderness, with access to campgrounds, picnic spots, service stations and visitor information centres on all our major routes. Roadside attractions can include dramatic waterfalls, roaming wildlife and matchless photo ops. Free ferry services cross our massive rivers through the spring, summer and autumn. There's scheduled bus service on the Mackenzie Highway, and seasonal bus service on the Dempster Highway. Vehicle and RV rentals are available for the Mackenzie Highway from Edmonton, Alberta, and for the Dempster Highway from Whitehorse, Yukon. Check out our website for details about highway routes and road conditions: www.spectacularnwt.com

Tie in with Northern Festivals and Events

NWT communities welcome visitors to seasonal festivals and outstanding annual events like Inuvik's Great Northern Arts Festival, Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks Music Festival and the Open Sky Festival in Fort Simpson.

What about the Weather?

Climate is a top consideration in planning trips toe Canada's Northwest Territories. Summer temperatures range from 10° C (50° F) to 22° C (72° F), hovering around 20° C in July and August. Water temperatures are very cold, ranging from 0° C to 20° C (32° F to 70° F). Conditions are usually dry and sunny, with daylight lasting 18 to 24 hours. But the weather can be unpredictable, so outdoor adventurers dress in layers. While snow can fall in any month, winter runs from October to late March.